Three judges have stepped down from the trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and his two aides.

Judge Mohammed Fahmy al-Qarmuty said he and his two colleagues were suffering from “reasons of conscience” and had to withdraw from the proceedings. The withdrawl of the judges brings the prosecution of the men to a complete stop.

Badie and his associates are being charged with inciting violence and murder connected to the protests after the removal of Morsi. Badie was arrested in August after the deaths of protesters outside the Brotherhood’s headquarters on June 30th.

The announcement comes less than a week before the scheduled opening of the trial of former President Mohammed Morsi.